CHURCH WORK

Evening Post, Volume LXXXV, Issue 36, 12 February 1913, Page 11

CHURCH WORK

PRIMITIVE METHODISTS SUNDAY SCHOOLS. At the Primitive Methodist Oto^wenGe yesterday the Eev. F. T. Read jsiwented the report of the Sunday School Advisory Board. In view of the approaching union it had been deemed inadvisable to do anything this year in the direction of getting the new scheme of organisation adopted by schools, circuits, and districts. It was expected that the way would be open next year for an energetic forward movement. It was recommended that conference^ appbint the following as additional members of the board for 1913 :— Messrs. W. ,C. Allnutt, W. Paris, A. S. Wansbrough, A. H. Williams, and C. H. Virtue, to' gether with additional members of the Primitive Methodist Church. "At the time of writing the complete statistics are not available, bdt the figures relating to the number of scholars, churchand junior 'membership, and other matters, will receive the close attention of the board early in the year. We feel that the 1911 statistics emphasise the urgent need of giving earnest and serious consideration -to the matter of membership and junior membership. Out of every five scholars who pass out of our Sunday schools, only one joins tile Church. If we could reverse the figures, and retain, instead of lose, four out of five, our Church membership would be doubled in ten or fiften years. According to the returns sent in last year, 326 Bcholats were received into Church membership, 'but this number was reported l»y Afty r circuits, making an average of six for" each circuit, or about one in four of those 'passing through their schools. According to the returns in lt)12 confer- . fine© minutes, in seventy or more cifstiits, representing about 10,000 scholars, not one was received into Church membership. According to these returns, city and town circuits with 330, 944, 536, and 394 scholars', received not one of them into Church membership during the year, while the same remark applies to scores of other circuits with from 15 to 243 scholars each. Are w« going to^look these facts seriously in the face, or simply take it for. granted that nothing more can be done? *Are we doing au we can to stop *" this tremendous leak? We know that most, of the Ministers are already overburdVsned, and that the Sunday school teachers and officers are amongst the moat devoted band of workers in the Church,;. The question arises whether it would not be better for the minister and" the Sunday school workers to see whether some lesß important duties cannot' be" laid • aside (Acts 6-2) for the vitally important one | of keeping in touch with the youiig, and I leading them into active service and fellowship with the Church." The repeat was adopted. COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATIONS The following recommendations by the cdmmitteV were agreed to, among' others : — That the scheme of organisation of Sunday schools and young people's departments, recommended by the United Committee, be adopted. That the following be appointed members of the board ; Messrs. W. C. Allnutt, W. Varis, R. Bayshaw, A. H. Wilh'ams, C. H. Virtue, W. Parker, J. Davidson, W. Kaler, A. Roberts. That the Eev. A. C. Lawry, together, with any other Sunday school' workers who may be visiting the Homeland, be appointed our ragMtenta'tives at the World's Sunday^Behool Convention at Zurich in July* 1913. ' . -• That Young People's Day be observed on the tHitQ. Sunday in May^ and- that the thii'dXSunday in October tie observed^as the universal day of prayer for Sunday" schools/ ' Tha'tj a quarterly. Temperance. Sunday be observed in all our Sunday schools on the day of the temperance lesson. > f That all schools devote at least one Sunday per quarter to missions. That the attention of superintendents b% drawn to* the Sunday^'school returns foftthe past year, wherein a, number of circuits showing large returns of adult members and scholars in the Sunday schools, yet have no returns of junior membership. In the opinion of the" conference this is far from satisfactory, and we Ufge all ministers to devote more time to definite Christian work among the youngXpeppJe andchildren of our churches and ' Sunday .schools. ' That £a convention , be held during *hß,.y6kr,'j the time and place to be left "to,- the,' bqard. ' In the f 4discussi6n which ensiled upon the presentation o£ the» report, members expressed ;doubfe a"s to the reality of the failure in.*fuvenile work apparently disclosed by tile' statistics.' ■ The Revs. W. J. 'Enlicott and F. Copeland volunteered *} for ' foreign 'mission' ■work, and conference d6eided>to recommend the Mission Board in Syflneyito accept the offers. , '',")'' The Revs. W. Gittos, .William Hi Beck, J. Newman Buttle, \and Thomas Ifee were placed upon the supernumerary list. High eulogy of the work of each retiring minister was pronounced by members of the conference. FIRST READING OF STATIONS. t On. the i recommendation of the Stationing Ctfmmittee the following was adopted as the first draft pf stations. The "use of* the letter "s" 'within, paren-theses/'thus-(s), denotes a supernumerary \— A ' ■ .' A "' ' Auckland District. Auckland Central— William Ready, John OlpherV Colin C. Harrison, J. B. Suckling, H. A. Sharpe (Alexanderstreet), Joseph S. Smalley (supernumerary), and James Thomas (s). Auckland Wesfc?-A. C. Lawry,- Robert Raine, W. A. Burley (supply), and a ,'home missionary. Avondale — C. E. Beecroft (Mount .Albert), W. A. Watson (Avondale), and A a home missionary. Auckland o^ast— George Bond, William Hay, G. B. Hinton (Epsom), H. R. Dewsbury (s), J. Smith (s), and a home missionary. Training College— J. H. Simmonds (principal). Home Mission Fund— T. G. Brooke (organising secretary). Theological Institution— C. H. Garland (principal). Auckland Methodist Mission — Nicholas Turner and J. Wilson. North Shore— T. Trestrail, a home missionary, J. S. Rishworth (s), J. Blight • (s), W. Gittos (s). Birkenhead— T. G. Can- and J. D. Jory (s). " Onehunga — John Dukes. Otahuhu — R. V. Tinsley and a home missionary. Franklin — E. P. Blamir«s. Mahurangi— C. A. Sims. Paparoa — W. H. Speer. Northern Wairoa, — W. S. Bowie and a home missionary. Whan-garei-—R. P. Keall and a home missionary. Port Albert — Home missionary wanted. Northern Maori ■ Mission — • Hapeta Renata (Kaea), Davis Willcox (Waikare), Te Tuhi Hereteni (Whirinaki), Hameroa Kingi (Mangungu), and Edward Te Tuhi (Rewltj). Under the direction of the organising secretary, T. G. Brooke, with W. Gittos. — Coromandel—A home missionary. Helensl ville — A home missionary. Bay of Islands—A home missionary, Hokianga— A home missionary. Whangaroa — A home missionary. Mongonui-— A home missionary. South Auckland District. Thames— G. W. J. Spence and H. C. Orchard. Upper Thames— P, R. Paris and T. N. Griffiths (Morrinsville). Wajhi— J. W. Griffen. Paeroa— R. B. GWnell. Cambridge— W. Beckett and a hatne missionary. Hamilton— J. Wrigley, J. Clever, and a home missionary. | Huntiy— M. J. Evans. Rotorua— C 8.-

, Jordan. TaurangaHOne wanted. Waikato Maori Mission — Piripi Rakena (Kopua). Hone M. Hare (Te Kuiti) and one wanted. Te Awamutu— A home missionary. Waimana— A home missionary. Te Puke^ — A home missionary. Ohura — A home missionary. Opotiki — P. Battey. , Te A Kuiti— W. Lea. Taumarunui—One Wanted. Wanganui District. New Plymouth— J. W. Burton, R. J. Liddle, H. T. Peat, and W. Cannell (s). Waitara— J. Sharpe. Inglewood — C. Griffin. Stratford— Amos Reader and E. Baudy. Eltham— H. White. Hawera — E. 0.- -Blamires. Manaia— J. B. Beach. Cape Egmont— W. Wills and a homo missionary. East Egmont — One wanted, and a home missionary. Kaponga—F. Rands. Wanganui— J. A. Luxford, B. Meteon. and a home missionary. Aramoho — W. B. Scott. Rangitikei—J. J. Mather. Taihape— J. E. Parsons. Waimarino — A. A. Benaley. West Coast Maori Mission — Thomas G. Hammond, R. T. P. Haddon. G. Kirkwood, three home missionaries, and two deaconesses. TJriti — A home missionary. Mokau— A homo missionary, Patea—- A home missionary. Hawkee Bay-Manawatu District. Napier— H. L. Blamires and W. Walker. Hastings— T. J. Wallis. Gisborne — J. A. Lochore and a home missionary. Waipawa— W. G. Maelin. Dannevirke — J. A. Hoekin. Woodville— W. Tinsley. - Pahiatua— One wanted. Palmereton North ■ (Broad-street)— F. W. Boys, W. Rowe, and Leslie B. Neale (Ashhurst). Palmerston Nortb (Cubastreet)— J. Haslam and T. T. Thomas. Feildmg— A. B. Chappie, M.A., H. Daniel, P. W. Jones (s), and one wanted. Saneon and Rongotea.— G. Frost and home missionary (Rongotea). Foxton '— T. Coateworth and N. Hyde (Shannon). Kimbolton-'—Home missionary. Noreewood— Home missionary. • ' Wellington District-. Taranaki-street — J. G. Chapman. W. S. Potter, John Daweon (without charge), and a home missionary. Central Mission— G,. Knowles Smith, Thorn* don— G. S. Cooke,\P.^ J. Cossum, and J. Dumbell , (s). Wellington Joeiah Ward, J. Southern, C. L. Qarr, ! and W., H. Beck (s). Jqhnsonville^S. H. D." 'Perryman arid A A. O<> Harris. Hutt—B." H. Ginger and , S. J. Garr lick (a). Petone— J. J. ; Lewis, and W. Kirk (s). South Wairarapa— A. Hopper. Carterton— C. H. Standagei Mfesterton—S. J. Serpell and a honie missionary. ' Eketahuna— A. M'Bean. Vj LevinOtaki— H. Cattom and T. G. ; Carr; ■ ■ Nekon District. Nelson— W.' Baumber. Eichmond— GlaTence Eaton and a home missionary. Blenheim— T, R. Richards, W.'.J. OxDrow, and a home missionary (Picton). HoKitika^C. Roberts. -Greymouth— -' A. Ashcroft. Motiieka— J. D.^M 'Arthur. Reefton— R. Wilson. - Westport— E.' T. «CBx. De'nnistbn— R. Richarda and> a home missionary. Awatere— A home missionary; Murchkon— A home mis--eionary. Runanga— A home missionary. North Canterbury District. Christchurch ' (Durham-street)— C. H Lawsi 8.A., H. Bulls (s), D. M'Nicoll (s), and T. Fee fs). Connexional 1 secretary and authorised Representative — S. Lawry. Christchurch Central . Mission— J. Cocker. Christchurch East— W. A. Sinclair, S. H. Olds, A. H. Scrivin, W. C. Oliver (s), R. Taylor (s), and J. N. Buttle (s). Christchurch (Cambridge-ter-race)—G. H. Mann, and C. E. Ward (s). Woolston— C. H. Laycock and W. Lee (s). Sydenham— A. N. Scotter, B.A. Addmgton— S. Griffith, and a home mis--sionary. St. Albans— H. E. Bellhouse and""L, B. Neale. Papanui — A. Peters. Lyttelton— B.F.. Rothwell. Springston— C. H. Penney. Tai Tapu— H. Ranston. Leeston — T. A. Joughin. Kaiapoi — A. 'Mitchell. Ohoka —J. F. Martin. Rangiora— J. R. Clarke and D. J. Murray. Greendale and Malvern— <■ J. Har- ' rfs', ' Aait a 'home missionary, ftmberley — A. F. Burchell. Oxf ordi— A " home missionary. • * v South Canterbury. Timaru (Bank-street)— L. Hudson and A.. Allen. 'Timaru (Woodland-street)— J. Featherston. Waimate— G. F. Stockwell, and a home missionary. Temuka (Main-streefe)— o. Abernethy. Temuka (Denmark-street)— A. Harding. Geral- ! dine— J. Guy. ' Ashburton— W. J. Elliott. , and T. R. B. Woolloxall. Willotlghby— B. J. James. Oamaru— W. J> Williams. Methven— Home missionary. M^ayfield— Home missionary. , Otago and Southland Districts. Dunedin (Trinity)— P. W. Fairclough, F.R.A.S., T. W. Newfcold (s). South Island Maori Mission— N. Hemi Papakakura. Dunedin Central Mission— W. Slade. Dunedin (Dundas«street)— T. A. Rybits and H. L. Richards. Dunedin (Cargill-road)->F. T. Read. St. Kilda— A. J. Seamer, and a home missionary. Dunedin (Kew)— E. Drake and F. Frost. Mornington— T. , W. Vealie. Roslyn— J. F. Pinfold, B.D. Mosgiel— C. Blair. Port t Chalmers— G. T. Marshall. Wai--kouaiti' and Palmerston — J. Benning and. a, home missionary. Balclutha — W. • Oreens'lade. ' Milton — E. D. Patchett. 'Invercargill (Leet-street) — W. Grigg and ' F. G. Lawrence. Invercargill (Donstreet) — G. Henderson, . and one wanted. Invercargill (Elles-road)— G. P. Hunt. Bluff— B. Dudley, F.R.A.S. Gore— M. A. R. Pratt. Otautau — S. Bailey, and a home missionary (Nightcaps). Edendale— Geo. Clement. • Roxburgh— W. H. E. Abbey. Lawrence-i-Home missionary. Cromwell — Home missionary. Win-, ton — Home missionary. Riverton — Home missionary. Tuatapere — Home mission- j